The Suffolk

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££££
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Silver Award
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SquareMeal Review of The Suffolk

Silver Award

When we say The Suffolk is right on the Aldeburgh seafront, we’re not kidding. Just a stone's throw from the sea (granted, you might need a good arm at low tide), the restaurant serves up exactly what you want in this quaint little seaside town - boatloads of local fish and seafood, and quality wines to wash it down with.

The Suffolk’s extensive refurb has been worth the wait, adding a set of charming rooms to an already impressive portfolio. The dining room is smart, with herringbone parquet floors, open fire and sleek wishbone chairs, and a grey blue palette that mirrors the North Sea beyond. A set of stairs also leads to a lovely roof terrace, where you can enjoy a snack in full view of Aldeburgh’s stony beach, or you can plonk yourself on a plush banquette in the lounge for a seaweed poppadom and a sea buckthorn Martini.

Pell has made The Suffolk a place where classics are appreciated, and what better way to start than a dozen fat, sweet Butley Creek oysters, or escargot swimming in parsley and garlic butter? There is a focus on excellent seafood - The Suffolk’s dressed crab with pickled cucumber and avocado is one of the best we’ve had anywhere - but the Suffolk offers plenty for less fishy folk too. A cote de boeuf cooked over coals, served with a mountain of chips and bearnaise sauce is something that will never go out of style, especially when it’s done this well. Specials change up frequently depending on what is available on the day, and it’s worth going with a group so you can order a whopping flat fish, roasted on the grill until the gelatinous flesh slides from the bones.

Desserts are simple but well executed - a treacle tart delivered a comforting payload of sugar in a neat shortcrust package, with a dollop of creme fraiche on the side. As for drinks, there are neat cocktails and a smartly-curated wine list where house bottles come in under £30. Throw in impeccable friendly service and The Suffolk really has everything covered. There are lots of reasons to make a trip over to Aldeburgh but The Suffolk is right at the top of the list.  

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Lively, Romantic
Awards
SquareMeal UK Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Beer garden, Great views, Outside seating, Rooftop, Terrace, Waterside
Special Features
Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

About

The Suffolk is a restaurant with rooms in Aldeburgh, just minutes from the coast. Boasting truly beautiful views of the sea, this is not a restaurant to miss.

With a stunning location on the coast at Aldeburgh, The Suffolk must boast one of the most beautiful views of any restaurant in the country. Sure, you wouldn't want to jump in the sea on most days out here - not without a wet suit at least - but gazing out to the North Sea and watching the sun glisten off its surface is good enough for us. 

The Suffolk was renovated in 2022, and today it's back open for business as a seafront restaurant with rooms, just minutes from the water's edge. Restaurateur George Pell - also the man who looks after gallic Soho institution L'Escargot - has brought the restaurant back to the present day, and instilled it with a new purpose. Food at The Suffolk celebrates the beauty of the local east coast, as well as the bounty of local produce available along its shores. The menu kicks off with a choice of oysters - Butley Creek, Maldon or Pembrokeshire - before offering up inventive bar snacks like monkfish nuggets with curried tartare, braised salsify with lardo, potato and celeriac rostis and a deep-fried oyster and caviar sandwich. 

There is also a selection of breads cooked over coals - mussel and anchovy with seaweed butter, for example - and that's all before you get to an a la carte of starters and mains. Small plates include lobster bisque with crab toast, dressed Suffolk crab with pickled cucumber and Aldeburgh asparagus and hollandaise, with mains featuring the likes of roasted langoustines with aioli, barbecue monkfish tail with samphire butter and crab linguine. There's also a daily special fish, cooked over coals and served with chips and hollandaise, and a selection of sides.

No meal in Suffolk would be complete without the option of a cheese board, and there are great desserts too, including a chocolate delice with salted caramel and hazelnut, and a classic tarte au citron.


FAQs

Do I need to book?

Booking is advised, especially if you want a room after dinner!

Helpful? 0

Can I stay overnight?

Yes, The Suffolk has a number of rooms available for overnight stays.

Helpful? 0

The Suffolk is featured in

Location

152 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5AQ

07831 601411 07831 601411

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 12:00-14:30
Thu 12:00-14:30
Fri 12:00-14:30
Sat 12:00-14:30
Sun 12:00-14:30
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 18:00-21:00
Thu 18:00-21:00
Fri 18:00-21:00
Sat 18:00-21:00
Sun 18:00-21:00

Reviews

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4 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Anon

21 July 2023  
Food & Drink 5
Service 0.5
Atmosphere 2
Value 3

Anon

22 January 2023  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 4.5
Wonderful meal by the sea.

We started the evening in the cozy bar with some delicious, original bar snacks and a fantastic choice of drinks. The meal in the buzzy, main restaurant was delicious. The local oysters were well prepared and so tasty and followed by a great lobster and chips. Service was very friendly and efficient. A fun evening in a lovely restaurant in Aldeburgh with a great atmoshpere and fantastic food. We'll be back.

Anon

18 January 2023  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 5
Value 4.5

Fantastic addition to the Suffolk food scene. Wonderful imaginative menu with one of the best lobster and chips we've had. Lovely attentive service and a real buzzy atmosphere. They also have a bar area with some delicious tapas style dishes. 

Anon

11 January 2023  
Food & Drink 2.5
Service 2.5
Atmosphere 2.5
Value 1.5
Underwhelming

Main menu offered only 5 choices of which three were fish, one was vension (called fallow) and one a cheese souffle. No pork - despite there being a dozen pig farms within a couple of miles of Aldeburgh.

My starter of Scallops cooked well but sauce too acidic. My main of Monkfish was far too salty. The waitress would "tell the chef" - but clearly did not.

Wine list is pretentious and ridiculously expensive - the majority of diners around us were buying by the glass.

My wife's souffle was very good although the crostini served with it were hard enough to break a tooth.

We visit Aldeburgh at least twice a year but will not return to The Suffolk.

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Call The Suffolk to make a booking on:

07831 601411 07831 601411

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